Retractable clothing pole



Sept. 2, 1969 E. M. NUGENT 3,464,664

RETRACTABLE CLOTHING POLE Filed Feb. 25, 196s 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENT OR EL/ZBETH M NUGENT BY @Mfw ATTORNEY sept. 2, 1969 E, M, NUGENT 3,464,664

RETRACTABLE CLOTHING POLE Filed Feb. 23, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,464,664 RETRACTABLE `CLOTHING POLE Elizabeth M. Nugent, 240 E. 79th St., New York, N .Y. 10021 Filed Feb. 23, 1968, Ser. No. 707,567 Int. Cl. F16m 1.1/38; A47f 5/12, 5/10 U.S. Cl. 248-435 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to new and useful improvements in a clothing pole, and more particularly seeks to provide a retractable pole which may be utilized as a self-standing clothes hanger, or quickly converted into a simple rod-like or pole element which may be inconspicuously positioned within a closet, or otherwise stored in a minimum amount of space.

In small apartments, rooms or homes, space is generally at .a premium, and it is often dicult to arrange for handling the clothes of guests or other temporary storage conditions. Conventional clothes poles do not blend into most room surroundings as a permanent installation, and yet, owing to the lack of collapsible structure, it is diicult and awkward to place such devices in .a closet or other small storage space, principally because of the presence of radially extending arms and legs.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a temporary clothing supporting pole having .arms and legs which are selectively extendable to engage the surface of a floor, and provide means upon which to hang clothing.

Another object of the invention is to provide .a device of the class described in which the arms and legs may be readily retracted into the pole body which is of hollow configuration, and be conveniently retained in retracted position until needed by manually manipulatable means.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a device of the class described which may be of dimensions suiciently small as to be inconspicuously stored in a small closet.

Yet .another object of the invention lies in the provision of a device of the class described which in its retracted state may be readily suspended from a hook, nail, or the like, thereby not occupying valuable floor space.

A feature of one of the disclosed embodiments of the invention lies in the fact that the pole itself, after retraction of the arms and legs may be disassembled to reduce the effective overall length thereof.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is an enlarged view in perspective of an embodiment of the invention, partly broken away to show detail.

3,464,664 Patented Sept. 2, 1969 FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof, showing arm and leg elements extended, and showing a modiiication of the embodiment shown in FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of a further modied embodiment, showing the arm and leg elements thereof in retracted position.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View showing a fourth embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the fourth embodiment.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan view thereof.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane 7 7 in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View as seen from the plane 8-8 in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view corresponding to the upper portion of FIG- URE 5, but showing certain of the component parts in retracted condition.

FIGURE l0 is a top plan view as seen from the upper portion of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a view in perspective of an arm and leg mounting means comprising a part of the fourth embodiment.

FIGURE l2 is a fragmentary view in elevation, partly in section, showing an alternate form of the fourth embodiment.

As illustrated, the invention discloses clothing poles having arms and legs at the respective top and bottom ends of the pole element, but it will be understood by those skilled in the alt to which the invention pertains that the arms .and legs could be intermediate the ends thereof, and there may be provided a plurality of arm sets at spaced intervals.

As illustrated in FIGURE l, a hollow pole element 5 formed from steel plate is provided with a top cap 6 and a bottom cap 7. The cap 7 is shown with three (which could obviously be four or more) radially positioned leg apertures through each of which pass a leg 9 also formed from steel plate and provided with a plastic end cover 11. At the top of the pole 5, as seen in detail in FIGURE l, a star 16 is freely mounted to slide within the pole 5, and is provided with four radially placed sockets 17, within each of which an arm 19 is mounted by a pin 18. The end of each of the arms 19 (FIGURE 2) is provided with a plastic closure 21 which is corrugated as at 22, to obtain better purchase upon articles of clothing or hangers therefor (not shown). Since the arms 19 do not support the pole S, any number of arms may be provided, as desired.

The pivotal mounting of the arms is such that each will pivot from the horizontal position to a vertical position. A short rod 20 extends downwardly from the star 16 and then laterally to terminate in a handle 25. The handle is movable within an elongated slot 30 to control the position of the star 16 and arms 19. If the outer ends of the arms are manually pivoted, as in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 2, to a Vertical position, the star 16 will fall under gravity until closures 22 engage the apertures 23 in the cap 6 as in the position shown in FIG- URE 3. In this position, when the legs 9 have been retracted, the entire unit may be hung in a closet by a hook 14 (which is secured to the cap 6) as a simple vertical pole. If the legs 19 are lifted until the star 16 is above the upper lip 24 of the pole, `and then permitted to pivot outwardly, gravity and leverage of the long end of the arm 19 relative to the pin 18 will maintain the arms in horizontal position as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. A lip 24 may be notched to maintain the radial position of the arms. Thus, with legs and arms extended, the unit is ready to be set in any position to hang clothing or other articles thereon. All three legs are pivotally attached to va movable horizontal star 12 within the pole 5, similar to the upper star 16, except for the number of sockets therein. The star 12 is secured to a short rod 13 that extends upwardly and then laterally to terminate in a handle 10. A downward extension 51 below the star stops the legs at a position shown in FIGURE 2, and prior to the point where the legs would assume a horizontal position similar to that of the arms. As will be apparent, the legs 9, star 12, rod 13 and hook 14 are movable. Thus, if the handle is grasped manually and pulled upward in the elongated slot 15, the star will move upwardly and the legs 9 will move into the interior of the pole 5 until the end covers 11 are blocked by the .apertures 8.

With reference to FIGURE 2, an elongated rod 36 is attached to the star 12 and extends upwards through the entire length of the pole, through an aperture in the cap 6, and terminating in a hook 14. In this unit, the hook 14 is used to control the position of the legs 9 and arms 19, which are positioned manually by first lifting tand then pivoting them into open extended position, or rst pivoting and then dropping them into closed retracted position.

FIGURE 3 discloses an embodiment similar to that in FIGURE 1, except that short rods 26 and 29 are longer. As in the embodiment disclosed in FIGURE l, the rods terminate in handles 27 and 31 that are movable within slots 28 and 32. Slots 15, 28, 30 and 32 must be of suficient length to permit movement of stars 12 and 16 from closed to opened positions. A hook` 33 is provided on one side at the top end of this embodiment, although it could be placed on the center of the top cap 6, if de- Sired.

Although illustrated for manual control, motor control (not shown) could also be housed within the pole 5 and connected to the arms and legs through small rods 13, 20, 26 and 29, or through other convenient means.

Turning to the fourth embodiment, illustrated in FIG- URES 4 through 1l, inclusive, this embodiment is materially simplified, as compared to the above described embodiments, thus permitting reduced cost of manufacture, as well as more convenient manipulation by those possessed of ordinary skill.

Thus, the fourth embodiment, generally indicated by reference character 110, includes a hollow tubular body 111 having first and second ends 112 and 113.

Fixed upon the first end 112 is a plate 114 of planar configuration, including a centrally disposed opening 115, and peripherally disposed elongated openings 116, each having a radially arranged axis. Disposed in the opening 115 is an axially arranged short shaft 118, having an inner enlargement 119 disposed in a recess 120 in the plate, and an outer enlargement 121 maintaining a small coil spring 122 in a corresponding recess 123 in a second relatively rotatable plate 124. The relative position of the plate 124 with respect to the lixed plate 114 may also be maintained by ball detent means 125 of well known type. The plate 124 includes elongated openings 126 corresponding to those in the fixed plate 114.

Slidably arranged for movement on the inner surface 127 of the longitudinal bore in the body 111 is an inner end .arm mounting member 128 having notched recesses 129 and an outer bearing surface 130. Radially positioned openings 131 in the body 111 permit passage of the arms 132 to horizontal orientation. The outer ends 133 of the arms 132 are provided with rounded enlargements 134, the outer surface 135 of which is of radius greater than the width of the openings 126, to prevent passage therethrough. Immediately adjacent the enlargements 134 are annular recesses 135, the Width of which corresponds to the thickness of the plate 124. At the lower end 113 of the body, identical structure may be provided, including a fixed plate 13S, a shaft 139, a movable plate 140 and la mounting member 141.

'Ihe outer surface 142 of the body 111 may be provided with additional hooks 143 of Well known type which in addition to providing additional means for hanging garments prevents rolling motion of the body, when the same is stored. Optional strap means 144 may also be provided to facilitate carrying and hanging storage.

In the fth embodiment, generally indicated by reference character 146, and illustrated in FIGURE l2, rst and second body elements 147 and 148, respectively, are provided with a tapered end 149 on one element, and a tapered recess 150 on the other to facilitate a force fit. Thus, the elements may be disconnected when the device is not in use, to permit shorter overall length for convenience in storage.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure as shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. In a retractable clothing pole including a hollow main body element having first and second ends, and extendable arms and legs retractably mounted thereupon, the improvement comprising: a xed planar plate mounted on at least one of said ends, said plate having openings therein, there being corresponding openings in said main body element communicating with said first mentioned openings; arm mounting means slidably positioned within said main body element, and pivotally interconnecting the inner ends of said arms; a second planar plate of configuration corresponding to that of said first mentioned plate and having corresponding openings therein pivotally connected to said rst mentioned plate; at least one of said arms having an enlargement at a free end thereof of effective width greater than the width of said openings in said second mentioned plate to prevent passage thereof therethrough, said arm having an annular recess adjacent said enlargement of width corresponding to the thickness of said second plate; whereby said arm in retracted position within said main body element may be retained therein by pivotal movement of said second plate to disaligned position relative to said rst mentioned plate, and corresponding engagement of said recess.

2. The structure of claim 1, including resilient means for retarding pivotal movement of said second mentioned plate relative to said irst mentioned plate.

3. Structure in accordance with claim 1, including ball detent means for maintaining said second mentioned plate in fixed position relative to said first mentioned plate.

4. Structure in accordance with claim 1, including the described improvement at both ends of said main body element.

5. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said main body element is formed to include a pair of separable parts to permit the disassembly thereof for purposes of storage.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 345,741 7/1886 Thurston 211-2 X 504,241 8/1893 Patton 248-435 X 867,646 10/1907 Ditrnanson 211-178 983,589 2/1911 Wendt 248-435 X 1,185,642 6/1916 Emerson 248-435 X 1,783,558 12/1930 Brown 108-128 X 1,904,731 4/1933 Harris 248-171 X 2,269,317 1/1942 Place et al 248-171 2,296,043 9/ 1942 McClary 248-171 X 2,542,137 2/1951 Hanson 248-171 2,621,802 12/1952 Stover 248-172 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

